One Woman’s 1987 Design Now Marks Millions of Ballots

The familiar blue and red 'I Voted' sticker now pasted on millions of hands traces back to a single design choice made nearly four decades ago. Janet Boudreau, a Washington state resident, created the specific graphic that has become a staple of American elections.

In 1987, Boudreau owned a company that supplied voting equipment and election materials. She observed a local county in Washington state distributing a simple black-and-white sticker on Election Day. The local version featured a square with an X inside. Boudreau found that design lacking in visual appeal and inspiration.

She returned home and used a blue and red pen to sketch a new concept. Her design included an ellipse and a waving flag. This simple addition of color and shape set her version apart from the monochrome alternative. She introduced the new sticker to a handful of counties initially.

The adoption rate accelerated rapidly. By 1992, Boudreau noted that distribution had exploded across the country. The sticker moved from a regional curiosity to a national tradition within five years. It joined a long history of election day memorabilia that includes pins, buttons, and ribbons used by the women’s suffrage movement in the 1920s.

The original design has spawned numerous variations in recent decades. States have introduced specific local images, and organizers have added patches for future voters. Some contests have encouraged children to submit their own artistic interpretations. Boudreau views the sticker as a badge of honor that encourages civic participation.

She described voting as a right and a duty for American citizens to share their voice. The sticker serves as a visual reminder on the one day when voters can amplify their preferences for the world. Boudreau hopes the item continues to function as a promise and a call to action in every election cycle.

The creator encourages citizens to cast their ballots and then spread the word about the event. Her goal remains to inspire Americans to engage in the democratic process through this small, physical token.